Side before self, every time. Pascal Struijk has been following the doctrine of the late Billy Bremner at Leeds United.
The 22-year-old has quickly gone from being an awkward shape for a flying full-back role to someone hugely missed when he’s not on the pitch at all.
Struijk’s rise has been well documented. Taken from the under-23s towards the end of the title-winning 2020 season, he was soon starting in the top flight as a young centre-back.
The former Ajax prospect was soon exchanging phone calls with Roberto Martinez about a switch of allegiance to his Belgium, his birthplace.
It’s been a long time since Struijk was one of the younger faces you worried about in the Leeds squad, such has been his assurance on the field.
A thrilling display at left-back in the Leicester City draw was followed by another star turn at Tottenham Hotspur, though there were signs there of an injury to his side, which was treated, but did not take him from the pitch.
A benching at Brighton & Hove Albion was met with confusion and frustration until Marcelo Bielsa explained the defender was not in conditions to complete a full 90.
Struijk considered himself fit enough to return on Tuesday, but only last a half before being taken off with the same issue which had affected him in East Sussex.
“Yes, it's the same [injury from Brighton],” said Bielsa.
“All of us value that he played with the physical limitation he played with, it's a knack that's very generous and shows how important a teammate he is to all of us.”
All eyes will be on Bielsa’s pre-Brentford press conference on Friday morning for the latest on Struijk and there will be hope this is not a nagging problem likely to stick around for long.
Either way, it’s an episode in which Struijk has impressed Bielsa and his teammates as he goes about building his reputation within the squad.
